Our vestibular system is a delicate balance mechanism located in our inner ear, which is activated when we move our head. It works with the visual system to help us determine if we are moving. This system becomes particularly important to help us maintain balance when the information received by the visual and somatosensory systems is reduced, distorted or eliminated. Walking across a soft surface, such as grass or sand, in low light levels requires increased reliance on the vestibular system to help maintain balance.

Our visual system gives us important information about our surroundings so we understand the environment we need to navigate through (e.g. a crowded grocery store), obstacles to avoid (e.g. a toy on the floor), and changing surface conditions (e.g. changing from a sidewalk to grass).

The sensory system has three primary systems contributing to balance and mobility: visual, somatosensory and vestibular systems. Each contributes important information to help us maintain our balance and to move safely and efficiently from one place to another.

The third of three major body systems that contribute to maintaining balance and mobility is our sensory system, which helps us interact with our environment and understand our body position relative to our environment.

The second of three major body systems that contribute to maintaining balance and mobility is our cognitive system. This includes functions such as generating thoughts, problem-solving, reasoning, paying attention. Attention deficits can contribute to increased fall risk, and this becomes most evident during dual/multi-tasking situations.

There are three major body systems that contribute to maintaining balance and mobility. The first system is the motor system, which includes our neural, muscular and skeletal systems, and which helps us move our body.

“Well, the other shoe is now on its way down. Jane fell a couple of weeks ago and broke her right hip, and the decision was that she would not have an x-ray. She has been confined to her bed (hospital bed) and cannot get up. Her nurse now comes every day and has suggested that we contact all of Jane’s friends and let them know her status.” (The individual’s name has been changed.)

I just received this email yesterday and it breaks my heart. Although falls cannot be completely prevented, there is so much that can be done to reduce the risk for falls and the tragic consequences. Falls do not have to be an inevitable part of aging if one exercises to specifically address balance skills and to maintain muscle strength and power. Maintaining lower body muscle power is especially important for older adults to help reduce the risk for falls.

Balance and mobility skills are affected by the complexity of the tasks being performed. This includes whether the individual is standing still or moving, or seated on a firm or unstable surface. Is the individual performing a single task or dual/multi-tasking? For example, walking while carrying on a conversation with a friend will create more challenge to balance skills than just walking without conversing. Dual-task situations require attention to be divided between two or more tasks, which means some attention is taken away from the task of maintaining balance. This may put an individual with poor balance skills at greater risk for losing balance.

Environmental factors that may affect balance and mobility skills include the surface conditions you are standing or walking on (is it uneven or slippery?), the lighting conditions (is it low light or changing light?) and the complexity of the visual environment (are you in a crowded shopping center?). Many environmental situations may have multiple factors creating heightened challenge to balance skills. Consider the challenge of walking down rain-slicked steps, on a dark, cloudy day in front of a busy museum.

I am a fitness and wellness professional, specializing in balance and mobility for older adults. I graduated from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in gerokinesiology, and an M.B.A. from the University of Redlands. I am a Certified Master Instructor and Assistant Program Director of the renowned FallProof Balance and Mobility Specialist Instructor Certification program. Prior to relocating to St. George, Utah, I served as the Programs and Events Coordinator and a balance and mobility instructor for the Center for Successful Aging and as a part-time faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton. As an instructor of balance, mobility, fitness and wellness, an ACE Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, and an ACE Certified Health Coach, I enjoy helping mid-life and older adults achieve and maintain fitness, wellness, balance and mobility. I currently teach physical activity and balance and mobility classes at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah.